Automatic signaling mechanism for starting elevators.



A. A. FULLER.

AUTOMATIC SIGNAUNG MECHANISM FOR STARTING ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.I3. 1915.

UNITED STATES PATENT ALLEN A. FULLER, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOB T0 FULLER ELEVATOB EQUIPMENT COMPANY A CORPORATION OF ALABAMA. j

AUTOMATIC srczunme mncrtnmsnpron's'ran'rmc ELEvATons.

To all whom it 'may concern.' Be it known that I, ALLEN citizen of the United States of Anerica, re-

siding at Birmingham, in the county of Jef-- ferson and State of Alabama, have invented' My invention relates to an automatic signalin apparatus for ,startmg and controllin t e movement of a battery of elevators' an my object is to so design the apparatus that it is capable of ready adjustment to vary the headway according to varying traffic conditions.

In Letters Patent No. 1,012,623 granted to A the signallng apparatus applied to a plume I disclosed al signaling apparatus for starting elevators in which the circuit controlling switches to the signal lights were dis osed in the elevator shaft and designed to Ee mechanicallyadjusted by the elevator. This arrangement was subject to the objection of interposing mechanism in the elevator shafts and of subjecting such mechanism to operation by the rapidly moving eleva-l tors. Moreover it was impractical toA adjust the switches to different floors to vary. the headway on the cars for different traffic-conditions during different times ofthe day.

According to my present invention I dispense with all car actuated swltch mechanism and provide, preferably in the pent house, a switch mechanism for each cab which is caused to 'move 'correspondingly with the movement of the elevator car whlch it controls and circuits controlled b v this mechanism for ashing a signal lamp at the top and bottom of the elevator shaft for'the cab which such mechanism controls.

An important feature of my invention relates to the manner in which each switch mechanism may be 'adjusted to flash the light at the terminus its respective cab is approaching when at any desired distance therefrom, thus enabling the flashing ofthe signals to be accelerated or retarded and the headway of the cabs automatically varied either uniformly at each` terminus or differentially at their termini so that the cabs would be started more quickly in one direction than in the other.

A further advantage of my present invention is that it reduces to a minimum the wiring for the elevator shafts and the mech- Specication of Letten Intent. Application led Angust 18,'19l15. Serial No. 45,278.

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scrlbed, reference being ha panyingdrawings which form a part of this f specification, and in which Patented Jan. 15,1918.

conveniently observed and attended.

anism'is all disposed where it can be most My invention further comprises the novel detalls of constructionl and arrangements of parts which in their preferred embodiment onl are hereinafter more articularly d'eto,the accom- Figure 1 is an end elevation of the switch control'mechanism' showing the lighting circuits in diagram. v Y

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line :1F-m of Fig.l.

Fig. '3 is a detail sectional the brush contacts; and

Fig. 4 lis a diagrammatic illustration of view of one of v2 for the elevator drum shaft 3 but any other sultable support may be provided. A small shaft 4 is attached to or driven by the drum which meshes with a 'gear 6 mounted to turn on'a shaft 7 fast in the bracket 1. A collar- 8 is interposed between the wheel and the bracket to suitably space the gear6 and I att-ahitq the gear by screws, rivets orv any suitable'means an insulating disk 9 of wood,

liberor.' any suitable material. The ratio of the gears 5 and 6 is such as to give to the gear 6a rotation slightly less than 360 in .the travel of the drum shaft to raise' or lower its cab: from end to end of itsl shaft. Preferably the gear, Aresponsive tothe fullmovement of the cab, is caused totravel about 270. The shaft 7 passes through this disk 9 with a clearance to reduce friction. Mounted on the outer face of the insulation disk 9 is a contact plate 10 which is provided with a central opening 11 made substantially larger than the diameter of the shaft 11'so as to avoid `contact therewith. This contact plate 10 has two are shaped o enings cut therein concentric with the sha1-lt) 7 but disposed at different radial distances therefrom. vIn the -outer opening, which forms a 3 and has mounted thereon a gear 5 marginal notch Ain the plate, I mount an spaced clips 32 and 33 which are insulated length than the notch` ln the space left between one end of plate 12 and the adjacent end of the notch is a series of closely spaced segments 13 which are insulated from each other and the plates 10 and 12 and all are suitably attached to the insulating disk 9 by screws or rivets. I provide sockets 14 between the several segments 13 and between each end segment and the plates 10 and 12, and these openings are adapt-ed to receive contact plugs 15 which serve to electrically connect any desired number of the segments 13 in series to each other and to plate 1U. In like manner the inner arc shaped opening which forms a slot in the plate is provided with an arcuate plate 16 and with spaced segments 17, -and alsowith sockets 14 and plugs 1 5. A switch arm 18 formed of liber 'or like suitable insulating material is mounted on the shaft 'l' and has rigidly connected to it a'collar 19 which is forced into ric tional contact with the Plate 10 by means of a coiled sprin 20 surrounding the cuter end of the shaft and compressed against the switch arm 18 by a nut 21.

Three contact brushes are mounted in the switch arm 18, one brush 22 being disposed to contact continuously with the plate 10 as the latter moves. The brush 23 is ldisposed to contact both with plate 1-0 and with the plate 16 and the segments 17, and the brush 24 is disposed to contact both with the plate 10 and with the plate 12 and I provide the same number of segments 1'? as there are segments 13, and I arrange the two sets of segments in radial alinement. Each of these brushes are preferably mounted as shown inFig. 3, the brush being formed by a cylindrical carbon brush which is inserted in an externally threaded copper sleeve 25 and held to its work by a coil spring 26 interposed between the top of the brush and a screw cap 2'? on the sleeve. The sleeve 25 is screwed down through an opening in' the switch arm 18 and has threaded onto it a pair of nuts 28 and 29 which clamp between them the circuit wire for the brush. By this arrangement the sleeve can be adjusted and also the tension of the brush.

On one end of the switch arm 18 l mount a pair of copper blades 30 and'31 which are insulated from each other and on the rear end of the bracket I mount a pair of from the frame and' from each other by insulation 34 and are disposed to be engaged respectively by the blades 30 or 31, according to the direction in 'which the plate 10 is moving. The switch arm 18 controls two signals 35 and 36, one being disposed at the upper end and the other at the lower of the shaft for the cab operated by the same drum shaft 3 as drives the contact plates under such switch arm. AY simple arrangement of the wiring system for each cab signals 1s shown and may be briefly described as ollows: The positive line current from any suitable source of supply comes in'over the wire 37 to the light 35 returning to the clip A32. A branch circuit 38 leads from the wire 37 to light 36 and to the cli tive line wire 39 leads to t e brush 22 and through it to the conta'ct plate 10, which is, therefore, always in circuit with this 33. The negawire. A wire 40 connects the brush 23 with the switch blade 31 and a wire-41connects the brush 24 with the blade 30. The operation for the control mechanism of' a single elevator cab may be briefly described as follows: The contact plate 10 will be iirst adjusted so that, for instance, Vthe intel mediate segment 13 will stand under the V23, which controls such top signal, will stand on a segment 17 corresponding to the segment 13 on which the brush 24 stands. Now assuming the contact plate 10 to begin moving counter-clockwise as the cab descends, the trictional contact between the sleeve 19 and the plate 10 will have swung the switch arm 18 to the left until the blade 30 engages the clip 32 so that the circuit to light 35 will be closed as soon'as the brush 24 is in electrical circuit with the plateV 10. Obviously, the time such electrical circuit will be closedwill depend upon the number of plugs 15 used as each plug brings an additional segment 13 into circuit with the plate 10. As shown in Fig. 1 'the light 35 will flash when, the plate 10 moving counter-clockwise, the second segment 13 rom the right asses under the circuit closing brush 24 w ich controls it and obviously the light will be held on after the brush engages plate 10 and until on the reverse movement of the car and of the plate 10 the circuit is broken at the clip 32 by the reverse or clockwise travel rictionally `imparted to "the contact arm 18 which is thereupon swung over into engagement with the clip 33. The circuit tothe lamp 36 will not be closed until the insulated plate 16 and the dead segments 17 shall have moved from under the brush 23. In other words, as soon as it strikes a live segment (shown as next to the last segment on the left) which is plugged into circuit with vthe plate 10, it will :flash the light 36. Obviously by using more plugs and increasilrji the live segments of each set the lights w` be caused to flash when the -cab is farther from its respective termini and the headway between cars is reduced and contrari-wise as the plugs are removed the headway increases, it being noted that the plugs must always be removed beginning with those nearest the plates 12 or 16. The plate 10 after frictionally thr'owincr the switch arm 18 will continue to turn and will frictionally hold the switch against one or the other of the clips 32, 33. The plugs and segment retaining screws are preferabl disposed out of the path of the brushes.

t will of course be understood that a similar signaling equipment is provided for each elevator cab of the battery and that all' are adjusted similarly. It follows therefore that as thecars A and B, see Fig. 4, approach their respective termini -they will flash signals which can be observed by the operator in the cab at each terminus and will direct him to start, as such signal indicated to him that another car is a given distance from such terminus. Thissignal is held lighted until the cab starts away from it when it is quickly cut out. The dotted lines indicate equal subdivisions of the shaft and there may be one or more iioors to each subdivision. By manipulating the plugs 15 the headway can be reduced between maximum conditions of travel and increased to the desired extent at other times. the segments may be continued to nearly encircle the plate 10 and the length of the insulated or dead plates 12 and 16 may be decreased. Also the plugs may be manipulated to vary the headway of cars leaving one terminus from that at which they leave the other terminus., it'being often desirable, as when the building is filling during the morning hours, to move the cars quickly from the top to return them the sooner to the bottom for a load, and vice-versa during the late afternoon hours when the heavy travel is down. The apparatus is extremely flexible and yet is so simple itV will wear indefinitely and requires no skilled operator to set it as the segment can be numbered and directions for inserting plugs charted by the building superintendent and by him varied as experience dictates.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. An automatic signaling mechanism for starting elevators, comprising electrically controlled starting signals at the termini of the elevator shaft; a circuit breaker mechanism for each elevator comprising a primary switch means controlled by the reversals in direction of movement of the elevator,

and a secondary switch means controlled by` Obviously nals, and contact means to vary at will the circuit closing positions of the secondary switches.

2. An automatic signaling mechanism for startin elevators comprising electrically contro ed starting signals at the termini of the elevator shaft, signal circuits, and switch control mechanisms for said signal circuits,

' one of'which mechanisms is operably conplete the closing of circuit closed at its primary switch when the cab is at a predetermined distance from said latter terminus, said means being adjustable to vary the distance from which a cab operatesthe signal it is approaching.

3. An elevator cab, a shaft in which it travels, signals at each terminus of said.

shaft, signal control mechanism operatively connected to the cab and movable back and forth responsive to the movements of the cab, said mechanism comprising two series of normally insulated contacts, a line circuit, means to connect one or more of the i contacts of each series to one side of said circuit, a brush for each series ofcontacts, a connection from each brush to one of a pair of insulated switch blades, circuits each including one of said signals and leading to the other side of said line circuit, terminals for said signal circuits disposed to be engaged by one or the other of said switch blades, according tothe direction o travel of the cab and to automatically open circuit the signal at the terminus last departed from, and to close the circuit from the other signal to its respective brush.

4. A starting signal control mechanism for elevators comprising a controller arm carrying a pair of insulated brushes, a contact plate rotatably mounted and comprising two series of insulated contact segments flushl therewith, one set being disposed to contact with one brush and the other set with the 'other brush, means to produce a frictional engagement between the controller arm and plate to shift the arm'on each reversal of direction of movement of the plate,

switches- -controlled by the reverse movements -of said arm, circuits controlled by said switches and leading each to a different terminus of the cab shaft, a signal in each circuit, and circuit connections to said contact plate, means to connect up one or more of each series of segments with said plate,

' trol mechanism, the control mechanism comprising a rotatable disk and a rotatable switch arm, means to hold said arm in frictional engagement with Vthe disk, a speed reducing driving connection'between the cab and the disk, a pair ofinsulated brush contacts on the arm, a line circuit, aiseries of insulated contact segments for each brush, means to connect one ormore of each` set 'of segments into circuit with one side of the line circuit, a circuit through each signal to the other side of the line circuit, a reversing switch means controlled by the frictional movements imparted to said switch armv for controlling the circuits through the segments and brushes to said signal circuits.

6. In a signaling mechanism forl starting elevator cabs, a revoluble disk, an elevator drum shaft, speed reducing gearing adapted to rotate said disk not 1n excess of 360 duringl the complete travel of the drum shaft in .either direction, a switch arm mounted concentric with the disk, means 'holding said arm in frictional engagement with the disk, insulated `brushes carried by said arm, a number of normally insulated plates on said disk, which plates are disposed to travel under each of the brushes, means to connect a variable number of the plates for each brush in series with one side of the line circuit to vary the percentage of thev disks travel during which the brushes will be in circuit with the line circuit, and a reversingl switch to whichsaid brushes are connected and which is frictionally reversed upon the reversal in the direction of the rotation of the disks, signals at each elevater terminus, and signal circuits connected to the other side of the line circuit and adapted to be closed by Ysaid reversible switch to the brushes,.substantially as de- Y, scribed.

7. A starting signal` controller mechanism for elevators comprisingI a multiple contact plate, a driving means from the elevator hoist to said plate, two series of insulated segments mounted on said plate, a reversible switch comprising a movable switch arm frictionally engaging said plate, insulated brushes on said arm and arranged to simultaneously engage each with its respective set of contacts, a circuit to the initial contact of each series, means to connect up one or more of the segments 'of each series in series with its respective initial segment, starting signals at each end of the elevator shaft, and two signal circuits leading from said signals to opposite sides of said reversible switch, and circuits from said brushes to Said reversible switch, the initial seg- 65 segment, means to connect said' initial-segment to the line circuit, a signal, and a sig-V nal circuit adapted to be closed through said switch arm and contacts, substantially as de 9. In combination, a movable element driven by an elevator, two sets of normally insulated contacts on said element, sockets between the segments of each row, contact plugs insertible in said sockets to connect segments, a brush for each set of segments which are disposed to engage the brush duringthe elevator travel between its termini, starting signals at said termini, circuits between said brushes and signals, a reversible switch interposed in said circuits, and line circuits connected to the initial contact of each series andV to said signal circuits, substantially as described.

l0. Mechanism for automatically signaling the several elevators of a battery of elevators for controlling the starting of same, comprising, in combination, a common signaling means for the whole battery of elevators located at a terminus thereof and comprising a number of 'separate signals, one controlled by each elevator and each so disposed as tovsignal all elevators at said terminus, and means controlled by the position and directional movement of an elevator t0 operate its respective signal and signal its position relative vto said terminus to all otherY elevators at said terminus, said means comprising a speed reducing'driving connection between each elevator and its respective controlmeans, substantially as described.

l1. In a mechanism for automatically signaling` the elevator cars of a battery of elevators for controlling the starting of same, the combination witha series of elevator carsand their shafts," of a main line circuit, a pair of branch circuits for eachcar, a switch for each car controlled by the directional movement of said car and arranged to connect either of the respective branch line circuits to said ,main line, a signal in each branch line circuit, said signals being located at each terminus of the elevators and being arranged to :form a common signaling means at sald termini for the whole series its respective car is at any desired distance branch line circuit controlled by the posifrom its termini, substantially as described. tion of its respective car and comprising a In testimony whereof I aiX my signature. 10' movable switch arm and a Contact means 5 correlated therewith and variable in length ALLEN A. FULLER.

to cut its respective part of the common sig- Witness: heling means into and out of service when NOMIE WELSH.

of elevators, and switch means in each 

